Srinagar, Apr 19: Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd, one of India’s largest paint companies, opened its first depot in the Valley. Its storehouse at Tengpore Bypass, here is the first by a multi-national paint company in the Valley.
 “We are the first MNC in paints which has opened its depot in the Valley. We have broken the shackles by responding to the call of the Kashmir market,” Kafeel Ahmad Khan, area sales manager, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd, told Greater Kashmir.
 To mention, the company has already got a depot in Jammu that is functioning for past two decades.
 Khan said the process was actually initiated in 2008. “We learnt that Kashmiri people wanted MNCs to come and directly operate over here. So we responded to the call. It took us one and a half year’s to get the clearance from the Sales Tax Department and complete other requisite formalities,” he said, adding that they were expecting a huge market for their products in Kashmir.
 He said the main focus of the company was to provide quality products to the consumers. “Our technology is advanced and eco-friendly. All our products are environment-friendly and lead free. We don’t use any volatile organic compounds in our products that are hazardous to the environment,” Khan said and added that the company had always been committed to the welfare of society and environment.
 He said they were also launching some new products—like Eco-clean and Impressions—on a par with European and American standards.
 President Kashmir Sanitary, Hardware and Paint Dealers’ Association and Executive Committee Member Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fayaz Ahmad, said opening of the depot by Nerolac in Srinagar shall have a number of advantages for Kashmir.
 “This is a milestone in the history of Kashmir’s trade. By opening the depot in Kashmir, the product has come closer to the Valley traders,” he said.
  “Then goods will be available in abundant quantities. The traders who had to get stocks in bulk quantity can now order them on weekly or fortnightly basis and as per their choice and need. This will also reduce the level of capital investment,” he added.
 Besides, he said, the depot shall also generate tax revenue for the government in the Valley.
 Ahmad said due to blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway in winters, goods do not reach us on time. “So this depot will help us in those situations,” he said.
 He said Kansai Nerolac shall also serve as a flagship company, which would clear road for other MNCs to open their depots in the Valley.
 The move, he said, will help a great deal in employment generation in the Valley.
 “At least 50 people shall work directly with the company and many others indirectly,” he said, adding that all the people would be taken from Kashmir.
  “Then when more companies would follow, employment opportunities would further increase,” he said.
 Khan said the company shall also be holding national and international level meets and conferences over here. “The company’s managing director has assured us that in future majority of conferences and major events would take place in Kashmir,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST